Great Las Vegas Itineraries

Great Las Vegas Itineraries

Two Hours to Kill

For the most part, the Strip -- with its gargantuan resorts and Herculean traffic snarls -- should be avoided if you only have a couple of hours to burn, unless you head to Mandalay Bay. It's at the very south end of the Strip with easy access to the freeway when you're ready to head out. You can tour the Shark Reef in about 45 minutes and then spend the rest of your time shopping at Mandalay Place, lunching at trendy Burger Bar, or hitting the blackjack tables. You could also avoid the Strip entirely and head to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for some last-minute gambling. If you're hungry, head to Pink Taco or Mr. Lucky's 24/7. If you need to stay near the airport, drive five minutes east of McCarran to the wonderfully campy Liberace Museum, an amusing slice of quintessential Vegas kitsch where you can easily while away an hour or more.

The Vegas Virgin

Head straight for the heart of the Strip to take in all that glitz and glamour you've been itching to see. Walk across the miniaturized version of the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York, get all Francophiled at Paris, check out the dancing fountains in front of Bellagio, and do as the Romans would and take a stroll through Caesars (the Forum Shops have great lunch options, both simple and swanky). Ride a gondola at the Venetian and join the throngs of wide-eyed admirers at Wynn Las Vegas.

You'll want to go back to your hotel to freshen up before your night on the town. Then splurge on dinner at a true destination restaurant like Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand or Alex at Wynn Las Vegas. Don't even think about turning in until you hit the nightlife scene. Our picks? A burlesque show at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce, or Mix atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay for the sweeping view of the Strip. Then finish off with some gambling or a show -- we love Cirque du Soleil's O.

The Sophisticate

Enjoy breakfast poolside at the Verandah restaurant in the tranquil, nongaming Four Seasons resort, on the property of Mandalay Bay. Continue on to the Bathhouse Spa inside the chic THEhotel,

the boutique hotel at Mandalay Bay, where you can soak in an Asian green-tea bath. Take a cab to Bellagio and cruise the Via Bellagio for Prada, Armani, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co. At lunch nab a window seat at Olives for views of the dancing fountains and Lake Bellagio.

In the afternoon, take a breather and relax by the pool of your hotel, margarita in hand. Or, if you have nonstop energy, head to the Venetian's Guggenheim Hermitage Museum,which has exhibits from the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Just be sure to give yourself enough time to get ready for dinner (try Hubert Keller's Fleur de Lys, or Michael Mina's Nobhill).

End the evening by attending Love, the Cirque du Soleil show. Or, as an alternative to a show, hit the nightclub scene, checking out either trendy Tao at the Venetian or Pure at Caesars Palace.

Bring the Kids

Though the casinos aren't the place for your kids, you can still find plenty of great family-oriented activities on the Strip. If your kids dig animals, check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, home to hammerhead, zebra, and bonnet-head sharks. Next, head to Gameworks, in the Showcase Mall (it's next to MGM Grand). It's a huge arcade and entertainment complex with tons of diversions for all ages. Break for lunch across the street in the lively Greenwich Village-theme food court at New York-New York, after which you might take a ride on the Roller Coaster. If you're up for an afternoon of thrills, continue north along the Strip to the Stratosphere Tower. Here, the Big Shot, X Scream, and Insanity-The Ride fly high above the Strip at 1,149 feet.

When you're ready for dinner, Roxy's Diner at the Stratosphere is a good choice. For a mellower but still enjoyable afternoon, head off to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum at the Venetian. After posing next to Britney Spears and J-Lo look-alikes, go for a gondola ride on the Grand Canal through St. Mark's Square. Finish your evening by taking in one of the Strip sidewalk shows, either the Bellagio fountains or the exploding volcano at the Mirage.

Out for the Afternoon

Stunning desert scenery and outdoorsy diversions are much closer to the Strip than you might think. Make the 25-mi drive southeast of Vegas to Boulder City, stopping for a quick look at the handsome and historic Boulder Dam Hotel. Continue 8 mi to spectacular Hoover Dam for a tour and some great photo-ops of the Colorado River and Black Canyon. Next, it's a short drive to Lake Mead, where you can rent boats, take a cruise on the Desert Princess paddle-wheeler, or hike or sunbathe along the beach. On your way back to Vegas, detour to the glam Las Vegas Lakes Resort, where you can enjoy a dinner of sushi or mod Pan-Asian fare at the stellar Japengo Restaurant. (During hot summer days, plan your time at Lake Mead for the morning or perhaps very late afternoon.)